Bale falls off trailer, strikes motorcycle driver causing wreck

[newbury]

EVERY time you haul a load you should look at it and picture yourself in court and ask yourself if you could do anything more to secure it. If something happens you will have to answer that question in front of a court.

And envision your loved ones being struck by whatever came loose.

 

[cqaigy2]

Yes it does. It keeps the pieces together for the funeral.

/QUOTE]

It helps when you hit the pavement.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Chris,
This is a little off subject, but did you restore an old barn, or are those old timber posts from something? I'm interested in your shop, looks like some reclaimed posts if they aren't original to the structure.

No, its part of the original pole barn built about 20 years ago. They are treated 6x6 post.

The barn started life as a 32x42 then a 10' extension on one side brought it to a 32 x 52. Last summer I blew out the back and added 12' so now its a 52 wide x 44 deep.

Chris

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I like those systems(and similar aftermarket). But put 25 bales of feed on the truck, that hang over the side. Unless you make some attachment to those ties before you load the truck, it will be impossible to reach them. For most though, hauling like that would be infrequent.

that is when I see bales on the road; people really loaded up, where the only tie that would work is some sort of exterior tie/hook.

It comes down to the driver, if you can't properly secure your load then don't load it that full. Most half ton trucks don't have the proper mirrors to see around the bales if you let them stick over the sides of the bed rails like you describe so in that case they should be using a proper trailer or hauling smaller loads. Personally, if I am hauling hay I prefer to use my hay wagons (metal sides). If I was to ever haul hay long distances it would be with an enclosed trailer. Much easier to secure the load and you don't have to worry about rain or snow.

 

[94BULLITT]

I see people hauling hay all the time not secured.

 

[sd455dan]

i like how the news always points out he was not wearing a helmet. If your getting hit by a 40 to 60 lb bale at highway speed, a helmet will not help.

40-60# Try 70-85# or 1100 or 2000# Around here standard (small) square bales are a minimum of 70# can't imagine getting tagged by even one of these...

 

[RobertN]

Agree 110%

It comes down to the driver, if you can't properly secure your load then don't load it that full. Most half ton trucks don't have the proper mirrors to see around the bales if you let them stick over the sides of the bed rails like you describe so in that case they should be using a proper trailer or hauling smaller loads. Personally, if I am hauling hay I prefer to use my hay wagons (metal sides). If I was to ever haul hay long distances it would be with an enclosed trailer. Much easier to secure the load and you don't have to worry about rain or snow.

 

[RobertN]

Yes. That is why my utility trailer and my flatbed trailer have rope hooks every 12".My truck does not so I use the trailers for those type loads.

The Title of the thread stated that a Bale fell off a TRAILER - a red trailer that the Pickup was towing. I agree with the lack of tiedowns on Pickups, but the owners of PU's can install and utilize a tiedown system. I feel sorry for ALL parties involved. Just a thought.

 

[lhfarm]

Nothing more in the paper today. I re-read the original story and it doesn't state the direction of travel of the motorcycle. It did state the truck was east bound and the motorcycle ended up on the north side of the road. When I first read the story, I just assumed the motorcycle was west bound (opposite direction) and when the driver was hit in the head by the bale veered right to end up on the north side of the road.

If the driver of the truck/trailer seen stopped and picking up a lost bale was also the cause of the accident, he or she had to know the load was not secure. It is certainly possible given the distance between the stopped truck and the accident scene.

The road between Columbus and Nashville is heavily traveled by tourist, many of them on motorcycles. It is a scenic drive and it is not unusual to see groups of riders, the majority not wearing helmets. It is very common to the see the helmet strapped to the back of the bike. I don't believe a helmet would have prevented the accident, but it might have lessen the injuries. I'm just sorry the riders are victims of an accident that should never have happened.

 

[TCJatko]

It does make you wonder if the motorcycle driver was riding to close behind, it's all too common. The item I see most often is someone with a mattress on the top of their car. Usually one thin rope and someone trying to hold it while driving. Sometimes it's bent in half. That'll screw up your day if you ride into it.

Not related, but an interesting story nevertheless. Years ago, while I was stationed at Travis AFB, CA, a kid was helping another move a mattress. Mattress was in the back of a pickup being steadied by one guy. Forty MPH, plus an unexpected gust of wind, mattress departs truck with guy still holding on. Landed on his head. Game over.

 

[Dutch445]

I was thinking about this load i saw yesterday, look at the back strap, almost looks like
it's pulling the top bales off! same thing could have happened

 

[sixdogs]

Wow, that one is scary.

 

[k0ua]

The worst wreck I was ever involved in was due to someone losing 3 hay bales in the roadway. Cars everywhere skidding and swerving.. Me doing the same.I was not seriously hurt, but others were. You don't have to be on a motorcycle to suffer from the hay in the road thing. Secure you loads.

James K0UA

 

[94BULLITT]

The worst wreck I was ever involved in was due to someone losing 3 hay bales in the roadway. Cars everywhere skidding and swerving.. Me doing the same.I was not seriously hurt, but others were. You don't have to be on a motorcycle to suffer from the hay in the road thing. Secure you loads.

James K0UA

Were they round or square bales? A square bale would be bad enough to hit but I can't imagine hitting a round bale.

 

[k0ua]

Were they round or square bales? A square bale would be bad enough to hit but I can't imagine hitting a round bale.

Square, I don't think anyone hit any of the bales, It is what we all did to avoid the bales and wound up hitting each other.

 

[creekbend]

I see people hauling hay all the time not secured.

The same around here too. One of my neighbors hauls round bales all during the winter from his Parents' farm which is 30 miles one way. I know for a fact that they are not tied or secured. Anytime that I come upon a vehicle or trailer hauling hay, I keep my distance and put my flashers on.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I did 22 years in USAF Transportation.

There is no excuse for losing part of a load, except criminal negligence.

Every accident case I investigated involving loss of a load, trailer disconnect, broken or loosened straps or chains, or tie down points was identifiable in advance and preventable with ordinary due diligence. Being government military, being too cheap to buy the supplies needed was never a problem. It was always the driver being in too much of a hurry to do the job right, check or double check the load initially or periodically in transport.

 

[sixdogs]

We used to sell small square bales when we lived in very rural New England and you would be surprised at the reckless ways normally intelligent and thoughtful people go about tying down a load of hay. Usually, it's a mini-pickup with hay over the bed edges and even stacked onto the cab. Maybe 20 to 35 bales at 42-45 lb each and tied with baling twine. People often joked about losing one on the way home.

As a result, when I see a load of hay on the highway I steer way clear and back off.

 

[QRTRHRS]

When I haul hay, I tend to over tie it. Beyond hurting someone, a lost bale is money thrown away. Fresh baled hay is more stable than hay that has sat in a barn for a time causing the twine to loosen somewhat.

When I was using my dump trailer to haul fresh hay, I would have two or three layers above the trailer sides I would run two lonig straps in line with the trailer on top of the hay and cross tie a strap front and rear. Loose hay, I would run three straps length wise and also cross tie every row.

One of my suppliers was teasing me one day about the front cross tie. The hay was baled heavy about 60-80 pounds. He suggested that front cross tie was overkill. Those heavy bales would never move. Well, I skipped the cross tie. Got up to about 50mph and dang if the front middle bale did lift up and out and smash on the road.

No body got hurt. I never again skipped a tie down. And, I do cringe when I see some of the tie down jobs or lack of going down the road.

 

[Kaliburz]

I was thinking about this load i saw yesterday, look at the back strap, almost looks like
it's pulling the top bales off! same thing could have happened

View attachment 328201

Ack....that should not have been loaded in the back! That would need two straps, one in the front, if not, center the dang strap or to the front a bit more.

I've seen pickups loaded w/ hay overhanging the sides by a bit. The way they "secure" them was just stacking another set on top...